Tuesday, 10 February 2015

Senator Ivana Bacik: The Order of Business today is No. 1, motion re the Report of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on the adoption of new Standing Order 103N and the amendment of Standing Order 90, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; and No. 2, Gender Recognition Bill 2014 - Committee Stage (Resumed), to be taken on conclusion of No. 1.

Fatal Foetal Abnormalities - urgent need to legislate!

Following the defeat of Clare Daly's Fatal Foetal Abnormalities Bill which was largely deemed unconstitutional by those who voted against it, I wrote to Jerry Buttimer, TD Chair of the Oireachtas Health Committee asking that they hold hearings to begin the process of examining the possibility of legislating for abortion in cases of fatal fetal abnormalities.

Here is some of the coverage around my call for further action.

Irish Times on Thursday 12th February coverage of my letter to the Oireachtas Health Committee. http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/senator-asks-health-committee-to-resume-abortion-hearings-1.2100440

Last week in the Seanad I welcomed the fact that we were debating the issue of Direct Provision again. Here is the transcript from my contribution to the debate when Minister O'Riordan returned to the chamber to discuss further issues.